THE headline in the Evesham Journal on March 5, High cost of fighting to block new housing, highlights the dilemma faced by Wychavon’s planners whenever a new planning application is submitted.

Most are approved without debate, but often there are valid reasons for refusal.

It is now almost automatic that if an application for a large housing development is refused the applicant will launch an appeal and the odds are weighted against the council because large developers often have much greater resources than the district council, who always have to be mindful that, should they lose the appeal, they have wasted taxpayers’ money.

In the case reported in the Journal, Wychavon lost their appeal but felt that they had such a strong case for refusal that they took the planning inspector’s decision to the High Court but the court ruled against them and they incurred legal costs of £16,000.

What is the solution? Should the planners just give up and stop trying to do their job?

It is our view that, if a developer wishes to object to a decision, democratically arrived at after due consideration of the issues by the planning authority and our elected councillors, the developer should bear the cost of the appeal, win or lose.

This would create a much more level playing field.

David Way

Chairman

Vale of Evesham Civic Society